When our savings were weighed up we found we had made half an ounce a day, clear of all expenses, for the entire year.
We now took a little run down to San Francisco, also to Santa Clara where we staid a night or two with Mr.McCloud's friend, Mr.Otterson, and then went back to our claims again.

In taking care of our money we had to be our own bankers, and the usual way was to put the slugs we received for pay into a gallon pickle jar, and bury this in some place known only to our particular selves, and these vaults we considered perfectly safe.

The slugs were fifty dollar pieces, coined for convenience, and were eight-sided, heavy pieces.

In the western counties the people called them "Adobies," but among the miners they were universally known as "Slugs." The winter proved a little lonesome, the miners mostly staid at home and worked.

During the year we had been here I had not seen a respectable woman in this mining country.